Shloka 13

Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)

Devanagari script

दृष्टद्वारो लभेद्‌ द्रष्टं राजस्वेषु न विश्वसेत्‌ । तदेवासनमन्विच्छेद्‌ यत्र नाभिपतेत्‌ पर:,राजासे मिलना हो, तो पहले द्वारपालसे मिलकर राजाको सूचना देनी चाहिये और मिलनेके लिये उनकी आज्ञा मँगा लेनी चाहिये। इन राजाओंपर पूर्ण विश्वास कभी न करे। अपने लिये वही आसन पसंद करे, जिसपर दूसरा कोई बैठनेवाला न हो

Transliteration

dṛṣṭa-dvāro labhed draṣṭuṁ rāja-sveṣu na viśvaset | tad evāsanam anvicched yatra nābhipatet paraḥ ||

Translation

Dhaumya berkata: “Jika seseorang hendak menghadap raja, hendaklah ia terlebih dahulu mendekati penjaga pintu dan memperoleh izin untuk dilihat. Jangan sekali-kali menaruh kepercayaan sepenuhnya kepada raja-raja. Untuk diri sendiri, pilihlah tempat duduk yang tidak mungkin dituntut atau diduduki oleh orang lain.”

Word by Word

• {'dṛṣṭa-dvāraḥ': 'having met/seen the doorkeeper

• after approaching the gatekeeper', 'labhet': 'should obtain

• should secure', 'draṣṭum': 'to see

• to have an audience (with the king)', 'rāja-sveṣu': 'in/among kings

• regarding kings', 'na viśvaset': 'should not trust

• should not rely fully', 'tad eva': 'that alone

• only that', 'āsanam': 'seat

• place to sit', 'anvicchet': 'should seek

• should choose', 'yatra': 'where

• in which place', 'na abhipatet': 'does not fall upon

• does not come to (i.e., is not claimed/occupied)', 'paraḥ': 'another person

Speaker

धौग्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• धौम्य (Dhaumya)
• द्वारपाल (doorkeeper/gatekeeper)
• राजा (king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Exercise prudent caution in royal settings: follow proper protocol (seek the gatekeeper and permission), do not place unquestioning trust in kings, and avoid situations that invite conflict—symbolized by choosing a seat no one else will contest.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhaumya gives practical counsel about approaching kings and behaving at court, emphasizing both etiquette and self-protection in politically volatile environments.